SD Walks has been a favorite in the first six stages of the Tour de France women's race, but the battle for the overall title between overwhelming favorite and rival Demi Foreling and Annemiek van Fruten is about to begin as they head into the iconic climb of Tourmalet on Saturday.

Lotte Kopecký, who has led the race since winning the first stage in Clermont-Ferrand with a late-race attack, will now concentrate on supporting Vollering in the battle for the yellow jersey.

"My bringing the yellow jersey to Tourmalet was certainly not planned. But we have one goal, and that is to win the Tour de France with Demi," Kopecký said at a press conference after stage 6 in Blagnac.

Kopecký had a remarkable Tour de France Femmes, winning the opening stage, finishing second in Mauriac, third in Montignac-Lascaux, fourth in Albi, and third in Blagnac.

"I am happy to have two stage wins and to spend the entire Tour de France in yellow. It's been a good Tour de France for the team," Kopecký said.

"I hope I can help Demi as much as possible tomorrow and have the legs to finish in Tourmalet. I hope she gets a lot of time and that yesterday's ridiculous 20-second [drafting penalty] doesn't define this Tour de France."

Vollering thought she had won the Tour de France Fam after finishing second in stage 4 of the Lodé. However, an uphill gap and a time bonus for second place put him eight seconds ahead of van Breuten.

However, he lost his advantage when he suffered a tire puncture on stage 5 in Albi and fell out of the team car, receiving a 20-second deduction from the race judging panel; SD Works' Danny Stam was later excluded from the race for dangerous driving and inappropriate comments to the commissaire panel. He was excluded from the race.

Kopecky said he was surprised to learn that Stamm had been removed from the race and that his absence from the team car could affect the team's performance.

"I was a little surprised when I heard this morning. I was a little surprised to hear it this morning, because yesterday we were already getting 20s. For us, I feel like everyone is looking at us and if they could punish us, they would," Kopecky said, adding that it was not worth worrying about the final decision.

"It's sad that Danny is no longer with the machine. He's a really valuable member of the team. There is nothing I or any of the other riders can do to change that. This morning I was trying to make jokes and laugh as much as possible, but I try not to waste energy because I can't change anything."

Anna van der Breggen, the team's second director, said that Kopecký's winning of the yellow jersey took some of the pressure off Volering for the Tour Murray.

"The goal was clear: who would ultimately win the yellow. It is good that Lotte won the yellow jersey, but it is not the main goal for her to keep the yellow jersey," Van der Breggen said.

"Lotte also knows the team's goal. Lotte also knows the team's goals. I know Lotte enjoys running."

Van der Breggen has been competing against Van Vleuten for years and knows better than anyone what it takes to beat the mountain world champion.

Vollering has won three Ardennes Classics this spring and has beaten Van Vleuten in several major mountains this season, notably Lagos de Covadonga in La Vuelta Femenina. In last year's Tour de France Femme, Vollaring finished second overall, 3:48 behind Van Breutenen.

Van Breutenen had a poor spring campaign, but bounced back to win La Vuelta Femenina in May and the Giro d'Italia Donne in July.

"With Annemiek, you never know. Sometimes in important races you are in much better shape than you were during the season. There is a lot of pressure in this race.

"I don't put a lot of emphasis on how good Annemiek is.

Van der Breggen said that Vollering will have to stay focused if he wants to beat Van Vleuten in the mountains.

"Demi knows how Anne-Mike runs and he knows he needs to stay focused all the time. Anne-Mike is strong and experienced, but that's racing. Doing a good run on your own and having confidence is the most important thing in racing." Demi can take it, considering what he has shown us in the races this season," van der Breggen said.

"The most important thing for Demi is to stay focused. Anne-Mike has big goals in the Tour de France, too."